DENR-7 allocates 1.4 million pesos for coastal areas in CV
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, March 12 (PIA) -- As part of its enterprise development and income diversification program, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has allocated P1.4 million pesos has been allocated to four coastal areas in Central Visayas in 2012.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said the recipients of the funds under the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project (ICRMP) are Bojo in Aloguinsan, Olango in Lapulapu City, Siqujor, and Oslob, Cebu.
Dichoso said the assistance aims to provide alternative and supplementary livelihoods for municipal fisherfolks by facilitating the establishment and strengthening the coastal communities to become self-help and self-reliant.
Recently, DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso and Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (BAETA) president Jomelyn Manigos inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the ecotourism enterprises on culinary and river expedition with a total project cost of P329,640.00.
“We are very much concerned about the protection and sustainable management of Bojo river as it is home to 61 bird species, 96 plant species, and 22 different types of mangrove species,” Dichoso added.
Bojo river in Aloguinsan is 1.3-kilometer from the Tañon Strait, southwest Cebu, with a depth of 3.8 meters during hightide. More than 5,000 tourists visited the area last year for a river cruise.
Manigos underscored the importance of the said financial assistance from ICRMP-DENR as BAETA has been helping the local government unit of Aloguinsan in promoting ecotourism as a weapon to protect and preserve the environment.
In a related development, BAETA was also given P220,000 by ICRMP last year for mangrove rehabilitation and protection, and has planted around 40,000 mangroves already.
Dichoso articulated the policy of DENR secretary Ramon J.P. Paje in expediting the release of financial assistance through the ICRMP so that our local coastal communities would become a partner and collaborator in responsible coastal resources management.
DENR implements ICRMP with funding from the Asian Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility with expected impact of enhanced coastal resources and expected outcomes of sustainable development of coastal resources and increased income for coastal communities.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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Community help needed to fight illegal drugs, says police official
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, March 12 (PIA) -- “We badly need the support of the community to report any marijuana farms (near Danao City),” said P/Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr., chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office-Provincial Intelligence Branch (CPPO-PIB).
Albotra said they are coordinating with barangay officials in areas where marijuana plantations have been raided.
“In Balamban, we have already met with barangay officials to seek their support in the continuing fight against illegal drugs,” Albotra said. He said some farmers go into planting marijuana to earn more money.
Albotra said they are partnering with barangays officials because they are more familiar with their area and would know first-hand on any possible existence of marijuana farms.
Just last month, the CPPO raided a marijuana plantation in the town of Badian. The raid was based from a tip from an anonymous source, the police official said.
“What the police needs is just a tip from concerned citizens who want to maintain peace and order in the community,” Albotra said.
Just last Thursday, another marijuana plantation was raided by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 and the Danao City Police Station in Barangay Lawaan, Danao City.
The 1,900 marijuana stalks planted on an open field were uprooted by the police. The estimated street value was placed at P20,000. (PIA-Cebu)